[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17211-17212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9137]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; FY 1998 Community 
Policing Discretionary Grants

AGENCY: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Department of 
Justice.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services (``COPS'') announces the availability of grants for 
agencies serving small jurisdictions to help pay for a portion of the 
fourth year salary and benefits of existing COPS-funded officers. These 
one-time grants are specifically for the retention of police officer 
positions meeting all of the following criteria: funded by a COPS Phase 
I, FAST or UHP grant that will expire before October 1, 1998; hired by 
jurisdictions serving populations under 50,000; hired between October 
1, 1994, and September 30, 1995; and supporting public safety and crime 
prevention projects in jurisdictions serving populations under 50,000. 
Applicants to the Small Community Grant Program must demonstrate a 
specific financial hardship that has impacted their ability to retain 
their COPS-funded officer(s) and establish a formal plan to retain the 
position(s) after the fourth-year funding has ended.

DATES: Small Community Grant Program applications will be mailed to 
eligible agencies during the first week of April. The deadline for 
applications is April 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Small Community Grant Program Application Kits will be 
mailed to all eligible agencies. If you believe your agency meets the 
requirements listed above but has not received an application by April 
15, 1998, an application may be obtained by writing to The Department 
of Justice Crime Bill Response Center, 6th Floor, 1100 Vermont Avenue, 
NW, Washington, DC,

[[Page 17212]]

20530, or by calling the Department of Justice Response Center, (202) 
307-1480 or 1-800-421-6770.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Department of Justice Crime Bill Response Center, (202) 307-1480 or 
1-800-421-6770 or your grant advisor.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 
103-322) authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to 
increase deployment of law enforcement officers devoted to community 
policing on the streets and rural routes in this nation. The Small 
Community Grant Program is designed to provide funds for agencies 
serving small jurisdictions to help pay for a portion of the fourth-
year salary and benefits of existing COPS-funded officers. These one-
time grants are specifically for the retention of police officer 
positions in smaller communities with a population under 50,000. Many 
of these small communities have experienced the positive benefits of 
community policing by hiring officers under COPS grant programs. Even 
with only one or two new police officers, COPS grants have helped these 
departments increase their overall police force by 25 to 50 percent. 
However, unexpected financial hardships and a limited tax base have 
caused some of these smaller agencies to be concerned about their 
ability to retain their COPS-funded officers. As a result, the Small 
Community Grant Program will provide $100 million to assist these 
agencies in retaining the officers and continuing their community 
policing activities.
    The COPS Office is providing these one-time grants specifically for 
the retention of police officer positions meeting the following 
criteria: funded by a COPS Phase I, FAST or UHP grant that will expire 
before October 1, 1998; hired by jurisdictions serving populations 
under 50,000; hired between October 1, 1994, and September 30, 1995; 
and supporting public safety and crime prevention projects in 
jurisdictions serving populations under 50,000.
    Applicants must be in good standing with the COPS Office on their 
current Phase I, FAST, or UHP grant. In other words, the applicant must 
be up to date with required grant-related paperwork, such as Department 
Initial Reports, Department Annual Reports, Officer Progress Reports, 
Financial Status Reports (SF269A) and other applicable special 
conditions.
    Awards under this program will be 20 percent of the original Phase 
I, FAST, or UHP grant amount. Funding is intended to assist the agency 
in paying the salary and benefits of the officer(s) hired under the 
above-mentioned programs, for a fourth year only. Applicants to the 
Small Community Grant Program must demonstrate a specific financial 
hardship that has impacted their ability to retain their COPS-funded 
officer(s) and establish a formal plan to retain the position(s) after 
the fourth-year funding has ended.
    The deadline for applications is April 30, 1998. Agencies eligible 
to apply to this grant program will receive an application packet from 
the COPS Office during the first week of April.
    If you believe your agency meets the requirements listed above but 
has not received an application by April 15, 1998, call the U.S. 
Department of Justice Response Center at 1-800-421-6770 or your grant 
advisor for additional information.
    An award under the Small Community Grant Program will not affect 
the eligibility of an agency to receive awards under any other COPS 
program.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) reference for 
this program is 16.710.

    Dated: April 1, 1998.
Joseph E. Brann,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-9137 Filed 4-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-AT-M